Need an Answer to Heart Cath Mistake

My father age 53 passed away mid Novemer 2010. He went to a unnamed hospital for chest pain, heart attack was ruled out, From what I understand he was killed during this procedure, on his death certificate it states punctured heart during Diagnostic procedure, now some tell me what does this mean and what should I do?

[ChatterAlly]

That can happen, but I have never seen or heard of it happening.  I know that I had a heart attack and needed the heart cath done, but I had to be moved to another hospital.  The hospital the ambulance took me to could not perform heart caths because it was not set up with a crash team in the event of a mishap.  Have you asked anyone at the hospital for an explanation?  I would start there. I am so sorry for your loss. Take care, Ally

[ireneo]

When a patient signs in for procedures, they or a family member is given paperwork to sign that explains the risks involved. Unfortunately, puncture of a blood vessel is one of those risks. I've had 3 catheter ablations done on my heart. They ran 4 catheters up into my heart and burned areas that caused errant electrical signals. Each time I had to sign paperwork that explained the risks.  On the heart rhythm board that have been a couple of people that did have punctures occur during their caths.

I agree with ChatterAlly - contact the doctor and hospital, ask for a copy of the notes concerning what happened. I got notes for each of my ablations; I'm sure you can get the notes on the cath. It might clear up some questions for you.

I'm sorry your Dad did not survive. My Dad passed away 2 years ago so I understand the emptiness.

[kenkeith]

There is a small risk of venous catheter perforation during PTCA. There is an instrument (catheter) that probes its way through a vessel into the heart.  The cath can cause a puncture at that time.
For some insight:  Perforation of great vessels or heart chamber by puncturing the pericardial sac around the heart (medically termed cardiac tamponade) will create a large amount of blood and fluids inside the sac (analogous to the heart proper inside  balloon) and that will interfere with the performance of the heart. "If cardiac tamponade is left untreated, the result is dangerously low blood pressure, shock, and death as tamponade is a catastrophic complication that can be prevented by attention to proper positioning of the catheter tip to the cardiac."

I can't give you any legal advice, but it is common knowledge there are lawsuits regarding medical negligence.

Sorry to hear of your father's death and my condolences.  Hope this helps you understand what may have happened, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  

[calcium539]

I just had an Angiogram done in Australia. I was asked to sign a paper before my procedure. I was told there are some risks involved and the chances were 500;1 and 100;1 in case of stenting. This could happen and you must speak with the doctor.

[whatnow241]

the rest of the story is from what I am told (because no one in the hospital will talk to me) Is that he was fine after the cath my sis had spoken with him around 10:30 pm, his last bed check was 11pm and they found him there in the hospital bed gone at 6am. The death certificate states time of death Unknown???????? what do i do with this???

[whatnow241]

forgot to mention immediate cause is: perforated right atrium during diagnostic aortopram for chest pains followed by dissecting hematoma of aortic root and cardiac tamponde...the first part i posted was listed as descibe how injury occured (punctured heart during diagnostic procedure)

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post and am so sorry for you loss...my dad died a couple of years ago as well and i had a heart cath as well done four years ago that was successful.  After working years in the hospital i know exactly what is happening w. you not getting any response from the staff...it is called a white wall of silence that has been placed around the facility for its protection so i can pretty much guarantee you won't be able to break thru it with inquiries.  I have always said for years that the success of an ablation does not depend on the patient but the ablater who is doing the procedure.  That why so much research needs to be done before you allow anyone to play with your heart.  Again i am so sorry and if it were me i would definately seek out a very good attorney that has experience in medical malpractice suits.  The doc by law has to carry a specific amount of insurance for instances just as this and the hospital as well as some culpability since they allowed him hospital privliges.  It needs to be made right for your family...no matter what your dad signed prior to the surgery bear in mind it was NOT you who signed but your father so this is a whole nother ball of wax here.....good luck with this and sorry......

[ireneo]

I know about the staff protecting their own but isn't there a law that a patient or the family has a right to see the notes about the procedure?  It's also interesting that there was a "dissecting hematoma of aortic root and cardiac tamponade."  Was that there before the cath or a result of the cath?  Only the doctors could answer that. From what I see, the aortic root originates in the ventricle, not the atrium.